Robert Pattinson Is Right, There Are NO Bad Batman Movies
Robert Pattinson shared his opinion on the Batman movies that came before his, defending all of them and saying there are no bad Batman movies, not even Batman & Robin – and he’s right. Batman is one of the most popular and beloved comic book characters, and as such he has expanded to other media, most notably film. The Dark Knight’s history on the big screen has been quite interesting, with many ups and downs and different styles that have given some unique interpretations of the character and its world, so naturally, not all have been a hit with the audience.
Batman’s history in film started in the 1940s with two serial films and continued in the 1960s with an adaptation of the iconic TV series Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward. The Caped Crusader reached success and popularity in 1989 with Tim Burton’s Batman, which introduced Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and counted on the presence of Jack Nicholson as the Joker. The success of Batman made way for a sequel, Batman Returns, which was a much darker story, after which Warner Bros. decided to change things up. The next movie, Batman Forever, had Joel Schumacher as director, Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne, and a completely different narrative and visual style, but the sequel, Batman & Robin, went above and beyond with its camp style and more (and had a new Bruce Wayne thanks to George Clooney).
After a long break, Batman returned to the big screen in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, the first entry in a trilogy formed by The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Warner then went for another version of the Caped Crusader in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and The Flash, with Ben Affleck taking the role. Now, fans are waiting to see Robert Pattinson’s debut as Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, so naturally, they are looking back at the previous movies and pointing out their flaws, even labeling some as the best (like Batman Returns and The Dark Knight) and others as the worst. Although there are definitely some big differences in style, narrative, and more between all these different adaptations, ultimately Robert Pattinson is right in saying there are no bad Batman movies, not even Batman & Robin, which is often considered not only the worst Batman movie but one of the worst movies ever made.
Speaking to Total Film, Robert Pattinson opened up about being a Batman fan and his experience watching the previous movies, sharing that they’re “not actually bad” and they all “kind of completely achieve what they set out to”. Batman & Robin is often criticized for its camp style, the plot, and the performances of some of its actors, particularly Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, but it isn't really a bad movie – it’s different from the seriousness and darkness often given to Batman and Gotham City. It’s important to remember that Batman & Robin was made as a somewhat kid-friendly movie but mostly a toyetic one, as ordered by Warner, and it definitely achieved those goals. Schumacher’s vision was to pay homage to the camp style of the 1960s TV series, which he definitely achieved as the movie is quite kitsch and even silly, more so when compared to later Batman movies, and while some performances and depictions weren’t the best, there are others, like Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) and Bane (Robert Swenson), which are quite enjoyable.
If there’s one thing that Batman can brag about when it comes to his many adaptations to the big screen is variety in styles and perspectives, as it has gone from dark and grim, to kitsch and over-the-top, to more realistic. In the end, every viewer and Batman fan will decide if there truly is such a thing as a bad Batman movie or they share Robert Pattinson’s view and see the charm of every version of the Caped Crusader so far, even in the one often pointed out as “the worst”.